Lane · STEP · Oct 2026
Chicago, IL to Rancho Santa Margarita, CA step deck rate
$8,106step deck
+3.4% from last month
- Per mile
- $3.99
- Distance
- 2,029 mi
- Typical range
- $6,809–$9,402
- Transit
- 5 days
Step deck · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly
Chicago to Rancho Santa Margarita price history
- 3 months
- +8.4%
- 1 year
- +18.4%
- 5 years
- +24.7%
Cost breakdown
- Linehaul
- $6,060
- Fuel
- $2,046
- All-in estimate
- $8,106
Return trip
Rancho Santa Margarita → Chicago$8,844This direction runs 8% below the return trip. Leaving IL prices above the national average and arriving in CA prices below it.
Chicago to Rancho Santa Margarita by truck type
| Truck type | Relative cost | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53' dry van | $6,213 | $3.06 | |
| 53' refrigerated | $7,401 | $3.65 | |
| 48' flatbed | $7,450 | $3.67 | |
| Step deck | $8,106 | $3.99 | |
| Power only | $5,522 | $2.72 | |
| Hotshot | $4,169 | $2.05 | |
| 26' box truck | $4,073 | $2.01 | |
| Sprinter van | $2,485 | $1.22 |
Live market check
Get live dry van quotes on this lane
The index is an estimate. For a price you can act on, ask connected freight providers for a live 53' dry van rate, or send the load details and get quoted for any truck type.
More lanes from Chicago
| To | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $5,354 | $6.32 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $8,224 | $3.99 |
| Houston, TX | $5,061 | $4.58 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $7,698 | $4.51 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $4,827 | $6.13 |
| San Antonio, TX | $5,529 | $4.47 |
| San Diego, CA | $8,123 | $3.99 |
| Dallas, TX | $4,470 | $4.75 |
More lanes into Rancho Santa Margarita
| From | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $9,128 | $3.19 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $1,398 | $22.18 |
| Houston, TX | $5,076 | $3.24 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $1,493 | $3.99 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $7,924 | $2.84 |
| San Antonio, TX | $4,525 | $3.31 |
| San Diego, CA | $1,440 | $19.46 |
| Dallas, TX | $4,671 | $3.29 |
About this lane
How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Chicago, IL to Rancho Santa Margarita, CA?
A Step deck from Chicago, IL to Rancho Santa Margarita, CA is estimated at $8,106 all-in in October 2026, or $3.99 a mile over about 2,029 mi. Quotes typically land between $6,809 and $9,402.
How far is Chicago, IL from Rancho Santa Margarita, CA by truck?
About 2,029 mi by road, estimated from the straight-line distance. A solo driver covers it in roughly 5 days of transit.
How much of the price is fuel?
About $2,046 of the $8,106 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $6,060 is linehaul.
Is it cheaper to ship from Rancho Santa Margarita, CA to Chicago, IL?
The reverse direction is estimated at $8,844, which makes Chicago, IL to Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 8% cheaper. Direction matters because trucks are scarcer leaving some markets than others.
Figures are estimates for a standard full load. Get a firm quote for this lane →